“John Malveaux of Long Beach, California attended the Auburn University Department of Music Fall Choral Concert on Sunday November 1, 2009 at Auburn United Methodist Church, Auburn, Alabama. The first half of the program included a performance by the Auburn Women's Chorus of GOOD NEWS arranged by Dr. Rosephanye Powell. The filled church of approximately 350 responded with an immediate standing ovation to conclude the segment by the Women's Chorus conducted by Dr. Rosephanye Powell. The second half included a performance by the Chamber Choir of I DREAM A WORLD composed by Dr. Rosephanye Powell, inspired by Langston Hughes, and conducted by Dr. William Powell. The audience gave a delayed but enthusiastic standing ovation after they seemingly contemplated and finally accepted the vision of Dr. Powell's imagined world. Dr. William Powell and Dr. Rosephanye Powell are married and both are Music Directors at Auburn University.

In April 2009, Dr. Rosephanye Powell received a LIVING LEGEND AWARD during the 2009 African Diaspora Sacred Music Living Legends Festival held in Los Angeles, California. The festival, presented by the African Diaspora Sacred Music Program of California State University Dominguez Hills and the Music Department of El Camino College, honors the music of composers and performers who have made important contributions to the development and preservation of African-American sacred music in the United States.

Dr. Powell holds degrees from Alabama State University, Westminster Choir College, and Florida State University. She has served on the faculties of Philander Smith College and Georgia Southern University, before going to Auburn. A soprano, Dr. Powell has been featured in many recitals, concerts and oratorio performances throughout the United States. She has distinguished herself as a researcher, interpreter and performer of solo vocal works by William Grant Still and the African American spirituals. Dr. Powell is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, the American Choral Directors Association, the College Music Society, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and the Music Educators National Conference.